A 25-year Special Forces veteran, who allegedly was rejected from a job after they learned she was transgender, gets her day in court.

"It's been a bumpy road," said Schroer after the trial, "but I'm glad I'm on it."

Diane Schroer stepped foot in court Tuesday in a discrimination lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on her behalf. The ACLU says Schroer was refused a job at the Library of Congress researching terrorism after the library learned that Schroer is transgender.

"[They] said after a long and sleepless night, based on our conversation yesterday, we've determined you're not a good fit. You're not what we want," said Schroer. The superviser testified she was stunned and worried that Schroer would become a distraction to colleagues, would lose her military contacts and above all, would jeopardize her security clearance.

"She has held, for 20 years, the highest level of security clearance and it has been renewed since she transistioned. There's no issue with security clearance here," said Matthew Coles with ACLU.

Schroer says the library violated a federal law's ban on sex discrimination in employment practices. Title VII of the U.S. code of general and permanent laws may protect transgender people who are discriminated against because they do not conform to gender stereotypes.

A federal judge ruled back in November of 2007 that Schroer's lawsuit could go forward, two years after the ACLU brought the lawsuit on.

U.S. District Judge James Robertson will preside over the trial in Schroer v. Billington, No. 05-1090. 

The Library of Congress is expected to argue Title VII doesn't mention protection of transgendered people, which means Schroer has no basis for a claim.


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